House of the Week: Views of a Valley

MANLIUS, N.Y. - Colleen Zogby's home features a backyard view across a valley dotted with other houses.

She's fond of sitting in her home's screened porch and watching thunderstorms roll in. But the view isn't the only selling point.

There's also an outdoor kitchen, in-ground pool and hot tub and family room with a 14-foot coffered ceiling.

Zogby's late husband Richard built the home about a year before they were married and worked with an architect on the design.

Zogby, who works as a registered nurse, is selling now to downsize, although she and her three sons plan to stay local.

Zogby and her husband continued to tinker with the house even after it was built.

They undertook a major overhaul of the kitchen about seven years ago that included new floors. The tiles feature glaze that appears to have a metallic sheen. Between the tiles are small bronze and pewter inserts.

The kitchen also includes double ovens with a warming drawer, a wine refrigerator and an ice maker that continually melts the cubes at the bottom and replaces them with more fresh ice on top.

Zogby crafted the room's mosaic-style backsplashes herself.

The house originally featured a great room with a 24-foot vaulted ceiling. A balcony upstairs overlooked the space below. At the time, it was a sought-after feature in homes, Zogby said.

"You quickly learn that it's not practical," she said.

So the space was divided in two. The family room now has a lower, coffered ceiling finished with leather.

The space above became a bedroom for Zogby's twin sons. The room still includes the original ceiling fan and recessed lighting it had when it was above the great room.

The bedroom is big enough for two queen-size beds, Zogby added.

But nothing beats that screened porch.

"I still come out here in the morning and have a cup of coffee before the kids are up," she said. "It's still one of my favorite places."

Kitchen: In addition to the other updates, the kitchen has a copper sink by the wine refrigerator, new granite countertops and stainless steel appliances, including a range with four regular burners and an extra large one. The room also has two refrigerator drawers, in addition to the standup refrigerator-freezer combination. There's also space for a dining table.

Family room: The room is sunken and along with its coffered, leather ceiling has a wood-burning fireplace with a stone, arched opening.

Living room/dining room: A wood fireplace in the formal living room was converted to gas, but could be switched back, Zogby said. The living room, near the front door to the house, opens onto the formal dining room, which features two chandeliers and space for a 10-person table. An office off the living room features built-in, cherry shelving.

Master suite: The first-floor master suite has a large window with a view toward the back of the property. French doors open onto the vanity and bathroom area. The room also has a whirlpool tub, which has its own view of the backyard.

Bedrooms: The house has a total of five bedrooms, five full bathrooms and one half bathroom. Each bedroom has its own full bathroom, Zogby said.

Basement: The finished, walkout basement is now used as a video game room by Zogby's sons and an exercise room for herself. It also has a cedar closet, wine cellar and its own bathroom.

Exterior: The home has a stone patio with an in-ground pool and a full outdoor kitchen with a grill and wood-burning pizza oven. The garage has space for five cars.